June 08, 2020 12:26 PM UTC

House Minority Leader Pat Neville Actually Losing His Mind?

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• by: Colorado Pols

We took note a week ago of a statement from Colorado House Republicans, over-the-top in terms of wacky rhetoric accusing Democrats of supporting property damage that occurred early in the protests over the death of George Floyd–a statement generally laughed off by the media, but this is what Republicans in Colorado were telling their base:

Over the past several days, chaos has erupted in the streets of Denver while supportive Democrats [Pols emphasis] have shut down the State Capitol in “solidarity” with the rioters who have attacked police officers, blocked traffic, and destroyed public and private property…

Given that Democratic Senate President Leroy Garcia was among those whose property was damaged, the suggestion that Democrats were somehow supportive of criminal mischief around the Capitol in the first days of the protests over George Floyd’s death is even more silly than the usual “Democrats are soft on crime” rhetoric.

As readers know, a change in police tactics after a few initial days of intense conflict with protesters is primarily responsible for a shift in recent days to notably peaceful and increasingly large demonstrations in Denver, including a rally Saturday led by members of the Denver Broncos in Civic Center Park that drew many thousands. But don’t tell any of that to House Minority Leader Patrick Neville! Neville sent out an update via his family business organizing front Take Back Colorado on Friday that would have you believe civilization as we know it is coming to an end:

Chaos has erupted across Colorado. Rioters, looters and violent thugs are roaming our streets unchecked, attacking innocent bystanders.

While our cities burn and descend into chaos, [Pols emphasis] Governor Polis and the Democratic leadership in Denver have remained radio silent. Some Democrats have even made excuses for the militant criminals…

We just want to be sure it’s we’re not missing anything: does anybody know what Neville is talking about? Who are these “innocent bystanders” being attacked–except maybe by police? What cities in Colorado are burning and descending “into chaos?”

It’s bad enough when talk radio hosts make up this kind of fearmongering nonsense with no relationship whatsoever to facts on the ground. The highest-ranking Republican in the Colorado House has, or used to have, or should have in any event, a basic obligation to not further incite panic among the public in an emergency. The cities are not burning. There is no chaos. And above all, no one is silent.

Pat Neville is doing an amazing job making Colorado Republicans look ridiculous, however.

It’s bad enough that we hope he doesn’t actually believe what he says. That might be even worse.